650 social housing units receive repairs through federal funding

About 650 social housing units currently owned by the Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corporation are being renovated as a result of $3.5 million in federal funding that was announced Wednesday by MP Terry Sheehan.

Building brand new affordable housing units is important, said Sheehan, but so is maintaining the current housing stock available.

“This is part of a multi-pronged strategy when it comes to housing and affordable housing,” said Sheehan during the announcement at the West End Community Hub.

Last January, Sheehan announced $32.1 million in federal funding for a new Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25 location and apartment complex at 96 Great Northern Road.

The funding announced Wednesday is being provided by the federal government through the Affordable Housing Fund, a pillar in the government's national housing strategy.

The 650 units being repaired make up about 60 per cent of the total housing stock under control of SSMHC, said its chair Stephanie Hopkin.

“These investments ensure the health of our current housing stock, while we continue to work to increase the number of units coming online through alternative programming and investments made by our federal and provincial ministries with the Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corporation," said Hopkin.

Funding has already begun to flow through the program, said Hopkin, with investments made to existing units by way of high-efficiency boiler upgrades, new windows and doors and a modern heat monitoring system, among other improvements.

Mayor Matthew Shoemaker said SSMHC is playing a vital role in addressing the challenges our community faces.

“The effects of having an affordable, safe and comfortable place to live are profound and capable of transforming communities,” said Shoemaker. “Simply put, the work the Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corporation is doing by providing people a safe place to call home is making our community stronger."